Mamma Mia! - An ABBA Filled Evening - Can a Rush fan survive?
Written: Feb 12 '02 (Updated Feb 12 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Great, energetic performances. Fantastic music interwoven into the plot.
Cons: It ends...
The Bottom Line: If you enjoy the music of ABBA, you will absolutely love this play.
If you don't, guess what, you'll STILL love this play.
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| jag2112's Full Review: Mamma Mia! |
For Christmas this year (2001), I wanted to get my wife something different. Something she would remember and enjoy for a long time to come. So, when we were in NYC back in November visiting the Mars 2112 restaurant (See my review), I happened to look across the street (Broadway) and saw the Winter Garden Theater - and the marquis sign revealing that their current show was Mamma Mia! - a musical featuring the music of ...gasp... ABBA.
My wife, not only being a Barry Manilow fan, was an ABBA fan as well.
Side note: Barry Manilow, ABBA and Rush - all under the same roof. Sends a chill down your spine, doesn't it?
So, in early December, I went ahead and purchased a couple of tickets for this musical, which, as I discovered after a little research, was getting rave reviews.
This past weekend, my wife cashed in her present as we attended the show. It was a cold night. The wind was whipping around NYC like it always does. But it was a nice night as well. Walking hand in hand, making our way down Broadway to the theater, we took in the sights and sounds of Times Square.
When we reached the theater, there was a line wrapped half way around the building - it was the cancellation line. I couldn't believe the number of people braving the elements, all for the hope of catching a ticket from a would-be cancellation. I can tell you that very few of those souls made it into the theater that night.
So, as we were making our way to our seats, my wife, Jennifer, turned to me and asked me if I knew what the story line of the play was about.
I replied that it was a recap of the life and times of that commercial guy who used to say "Mamma Mia! Thatsa Spicy Meatball!" - all set to the music of ABBA. I said it with a straight enough face that I think she actually believed me for a moment. Just a moment, before she rolled her eyes at me.
Heck, I thought that would have made one heck of a play...but that's me.
Ahem.
ANYway...back to the show. Before the curtain went up, I quietly started humming some Rush tunes to myself. I was about to get bombarded with 2 hours of ABBA songs. I needed to do something to hold on to the style of music I appreciate - which is far from ABBA.
So hum I did. Singing the lyrics in my head... "We are merely players. Performers and portrayers. Each another's audience outside this gilded cage..."
But it wasn't long before the lights dimmed and the show began. Immediately, the orchestra broke into a medley of ABBA hits. Shrugging it off, I settled in for what was likely to be a long evening.
The play begins.
The story behind Mamma Mia is a relatively simple one. It's about a single mother, Donna Sheridan, who runs a small hotel on a Greek island. She has a 20 year old daughter, Sophie, who's about to get married. Sophie has never known her father. Donna, for that matter, isn't quite sure who the father is. But both know that it's one of three possible men that Donna has spent an encounter with some 20 years prior.
So, behind Donna's back, Sophie decides to invite all 3 perspective fathers to the wedding in hopes of determining which of the men has a tie to her like no other.
The play continues with the set up of the wedding the next day, and the introduction of two of Donna's old friends - who have come to the island for the ceremony. It seems that Donna (the mother) and these two friends (Ali and Lisa) were in somewhat of a band in their earlier days. Guess what type of music they used to sing (among others) - right - ABBA.
The combination of these three female rockers reliving their youth coupled with the conundrum that results in the three potential fathers all arriving at the same time makes for a heart-felt, warm and often hilarious story.
I'll end the 'play-theme' there as I wouldn't want to spoil the continuation for you.
But the key to this play is the back drop of continuous ABBA music. But the music is more than just that. It's actually perfectly interwoven into the details of the play. Situations and scenes are crafted around the lyrics of over 20 ABBA songs - and they all fit beautifully together.
The energy of the performances was intoxicating. As I tried to hold on to some piece of Rush and Limelight (the song I was humming), I found myself tapping my feet and air drumming to the tunes of ABBA.
At the end of the 1st ACT, my wife turned to me, noticing my enjoyment in the show, and said "We can buy all the ABBA CD's you want - as soon as we trade in your Rush CD's."
Ha.
Ah - no.
But it was true. I was getting sucked into this play and the music. I wasn't a stranger to the songs of ABBA. I grew up with them as my sister played their music non stop. And, of course, my wife's collection of ABBA CD's makes its way into our stereo every now and again.
And that made the show even more enjoyable. Knowing the songs, knowing the basis of some of the lyrics - it made me see even more clearly how it all worked beautifully into the story of the play.
As the second act began, the story line developed and took turns no one could really expect. Turns that were sad, yet uplifting. And the music and hilarity continued.
The performers - each and every one of them, were outstanding. They acted and sang their hearts out and you truly believed their story. Truly believed this was all happening. They were that good.
The sets, while on the simple side, were very effective and beautiful. Reflective of the exterior and interior walls of the hotel, they had a distinctive ocean-view charm that was instantly recognizable.
But, as I mentioned above, sets aside, acting aside, the music is the heart and soul of this musical comedy. And the actors play on that knowledge.
One of the most memorable parts of the show was during the encores. Assuming the actors were out there taking their bows and applause, one would expect the show to be ending.
Not so. All of a sudden, the entire cast broke into a concert continuing the songs of ABBA, including the overlooked Waterloo that didn't make it into the story line (except for a quick mention on the side of a small boat).
The entire audience got to their feet and began singing and dancing in the aisles. My wife was cheering, and, as I looked down, I realized that I was dancing too.
We were all caught up in the moment. The music was outstanding. The energy was absolutely electric, and most of us hoped that the show/concert would go on into the night.
But when it did end, not a face left that theater without a huge smile on it.
All of the rave reviews I read about Mamma Mia! didn't do it complete justice. This was a musical that made you feel good - in every way.
As we exited the theater, the NYC Winter wind caught us again. Undaunted, my wife and I clasped hands and made our way down Broadway once again.
The cold winter air didn't affect us since our hearts, our souls and our bodies were warmed by the performance we just witnessed. It was a pefect evening - a perfect gift.
I was humming Rush at the beginning of the evening. I've been humming ABBA ever since.
Can a Rush fan survive watching Mamma Mia!? Apparently, yes.
Thanks, as always, for reading...
-John
Recommended:
Yes
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jag2112
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Member: John
Location: Clinton, NJ
Reviews written: 304
Trusted by: 310 members
About Me:
The writer stares with glassy eyes...
Defies the empty page...
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